2026 January 18 *IMPORTANT NOTICE* Mushrooming Trip Postponed

*IMPORTANT NOTICE* Mushrooming Trip Postponed until rain returns (and fungi)

📅 January 18th 
⏱️ 9:00am Approx. 3 hours.
📍Morgan Trail, Santa Ana Mts

Join mushroom expert and OCCNPS member Joanne Schwartz as we scout for various species of mushrooms and other fungi among the oak woodlands of the Morgan Trail. Rainfall has been good this winter, so this date should be excellent. However, due to the importance of rainfall and temperature for mushrooms, the date of this trip may move on fairly short notice. See Important Note below.

Joanne will explain the differences in the fungus parts and how they reproduce from spores spread by wind, animals, water and insects. Fungus are important to the ecology of our local wildlands in many ways and without their decomposing and symbiotic characteristics the world would be a very different place. Joanne will demonstrate environmentally friendly methods and tools used to study fungi. Although principally a mushroom and fungus trip, we will not be able to avoid pointing out a few of the interesting native plants of the area as well.

Joanne Schwartz is an amateur mycologist and local mushroom expert. She has collected and photographed fungi throughout the world and has participated in field studies in Peru and Bolivia as well as California’s redwood forests and TNC’s Santa Cruz Island Reserve.

Meet 9 AM at the trailhead of the Morgan Trail on South Main Divide Road. For optional carpooling meet 8:20 AM in the parking lot at Bravo’s California Fresh Restaurant (31722 Rancho Viejo Rd, San Juan Capistrano, ¼ mi East of I5 at SR74). Free and open to all, but a $5 Forest Adventure Pass is required for parking and available at Big 5 or REI. No water or restroom at the trailhead. Leaders: Joanne Schwartz and Ron Vanderhoff.

Important Note: Mushrooms are particularly dependent upon winter rainfall for the best hunting. If rain does not cooperate, the date of this trip may be adjusted. Please check this website for any last minute updates.

Free and open to all. Physical Difficulty: Easy to moderate. Bring a hand lens and good trail shoes. Approx. 3 hours.